N Ram denies charge of landgrabbing

Former AIADMK MP KC Palanisami on Wednesday accused N Ram, former editor in chief of The Hindu and some directors of Kasturi and Sons Ltd (KSL), publishers of the English daily, of criminal intimidation and landgrabbing. HT reports.

Former AIADMK MP KC Palanisami on Wednesday accused N Ram, former editor in chief of The Hindu and some directors of Kasturi and Sons Ltd (KSL), publishers of the English daily, of criminal intimidation and landgrabbing.

In a complaint submitted to the state DGP and Chennai city police commissioner, he alleged that Ram was using coercive tactics to force him to part with a property worth Rs 400 crore for Rs 30 crore.

N Ram dismissed the allegations and said KSL will sue Palanisami for making wild allegations. "We have a dossier on him documenting his past, and court observations against him. We will sue him and all media outfits that carried the scandalous falsehood. He is also a habitual retractor," Ram told HT.

Palanasami said in 2004 KSL sold him two companies which owned properties including a golf course running on losses. But as soon as land price began to rise, the company wanted to buy back the properties at a significantly low cost.

“After the government changed in Tamil Nadu in 2006 the pressure began to mount," alleged Palanisami.

"I had lodged a police complaint and recorded my statement with a magistrate. Till now there has been no action," he added.